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“What happened?” Erin was stroking the hair of the woman curled up on her lap.

“We got cut off.” Checking the phone again, I could see my signal had dropped out completely. “It’s my signal.”

Cut off.

The words resonated in my head.

Cut off—just like we were without a signal.

It’s okay.I inhaled.I know these woods. I’ll get us to safety.

She frowned as she reached into her pocket and tugged out her own device. “Shit, mine too. What does that mean?”

I searched the sky overhead, noting for the first time just how dark the heavens had become since the men had fallen. Any trace of the light blue that had lit the morning was well and truly obliterated by sinister, encroaching gray.

“It could be the weather,” I explained. “But I managed to relay the message before I lost her. Help is coming.”

Even to my ears, the reassurance sounded hollow.

“What now?” Erin looked at me. “Do we just wait?”

“No, we move.” Of that I was certain. My every fiber was telling me to get going. “The weather looks to be turning, and the forest is a grim place to be during inclement weather. Better that we head back to base. That way, we can meet the paramedics.”

“Base?” Erin’s brows knitted.

“Tourist information,” I clarified. “Near where I met you by the bridge.” My gaze scanned over Chelle. “How are you doing, Chelle?”

“She hasn’t said anything else since...” Erin’s eyes closed before she went on. “I think she’s in shock.”

“We all are.” I sighed. “But we really should get going.”

“Wecan’tjust leave.” The snivel came from the otherwise motionless Chelle. “All James’s stuff is still here. I can’t give up on him.”

Erin’s gaze locked with mine as she tried to soothe her friend. “We have to, Chelle. James would have wanted to make sure you were safe.”

Casting an eye out at the leaden sky, I wasn’t so sure I agreed with her analysis. James had come across as a self-centered prick.

“Let’s go,” I instructed, gesturing for them to get up. “I’ll take his pack down with us, so he’ll have his things.”

Not that I believed there was any chance of reuniting the bag with its owner, but still... if it helped to motivate Chelle, I was willing to do it.

“Really?” Chelle lifted her head from Erin’s lap, her red, swollen eyes meeting my gaze.

“Sure,” I replied, glancing down to where James had dropped it. The tiny clearing that had once been so endearing had been tainted.

I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to go back there again.

“Let’s get the hell out of here.”